Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE12201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE12201’ particularly distinguished by light green foliage, good branching, and compact growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE12201’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE12201’. The newvariety originated from a controlled cross conducted in July 2008 inNairobi, Kenya between female Osteospermum plant named ‘07 183’(unpatented), and male Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEO04113’ (EU CPVR No.21047). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for furtherevaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in thespring of 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany. and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by vegetative cuttings for three to four generations. Thepresent invention has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetativecuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘KLEOE12201’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Light green foliage;    -   2. Good branching; and    -   3. Compact growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, andfoliage of the plant in full color. The colors shown are as true as canbe reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotograph was taken in the spring of 2012 on a 3-month old plant grownin a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditionswhich approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE12201’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2012 on5-month old plants grown in 12 centimeter pots. The plants were grown ina heated glass greenhouse and pinched at week 32. Color readings weretaken under natural and artificial light. Color references are primarilyto The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.        -   Denomination.—‘KLEOE12201’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘07 183’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEO04113’ (EU CPVR            No. 21047).-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as            an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil).—17.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescence).—28.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings from tips.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—13 to 16 weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 4 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color (both immature and mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS            141A. Lower surface: RHS 138A.        -   Length.—7.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches.—15.        -   Length.—13.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141D.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            137C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—40.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—12 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—6.0 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—1.1 cm.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—80.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS N79B. Mature: RHS N79C.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—0.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS N79B.        -   Base.—Fused to form a tube.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—16.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N79B. Lower surface: RHS N77B.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.9 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—RHS 138A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per inflorescence.—22.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 138A. Lower surface: RHS 138B.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.15 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Base of the disc floret corolla.            Stamens: Quantity: 80. Shape: Filamentous. Color: RHS N77A.            Filament length: 0.7 cm. Filament diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther:            Shape: Elliptical. Color: RHS 200A. Length: 0.3 cm.            Diameter: 0.09 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS 13A. Amount: Abundant.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Base of the ray florets; stigmas in            disc florets are degenerated and non-functional. Pistils:            Number: 16. Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.03 cm. Stigma:            Color: RHS N79A. Shape: Bipartite. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter:            0.04 cm. Style: Color: RHS 79C. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter:            0.03 cm. Shape: Filamentous.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No specific observations were    made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLEOE12201’ differs from the female parent Osteospermum plant ‘07 183’(unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE12201’ has good branching, whereas ‘07 183’has average branching.

‘KLEOE12201’ differs from the male parent Osteospermum plant ‘KLEO04113’(EU CPVR No. 21047) in that ‘KLEOE12201’ has a compact growth habit andvery good basal branching, whereas ‘KLEO04113’ has an upright growthhabit and minimal branching.

‘KLEOE12201’ differs from the commercial Osteospermum plant ‘KLEO04110’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,272) in that ‘KLEOE12201’ has purple flowers,whereas ‘KLEO04110’ has violet purple flowers.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant named‘KLEOE12201’ as shown and described herein.